Life saving device



Jan. 20, 1942- c. HERENDEEN LIFE SAVING DEVICE Filed March 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 20, 1942. c. HERENDEEN LIFE SAVING DEVICE Filed March 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UEIEIEIEIEIU Patented Jan. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i r 2,270,437 l LIFE SAVING DEVICE Charles Herendeen, Chicago, Ill. Applicationjll/Iarch 26, 1941 Serial No. 385,348 Cl aims. (01. 227-39) The invention relates to life saving devices and has as an object the provision of a device to aid the escape of people from a burning building, a ship in distress, or the like.

It is an object of the inventionto provide a flexible chute which may be attached to the structure from which escape is desired, and. which will provide for safe delivery of persons sliding within the interior thereof even though passing through fire orwater. 1, Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings showing an illustrative embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 shows the device applied to a building in connection with a ladder;

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section on an.enlarged scale through aportion of the building at a window, and showing the upper end of the chute in full lines;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the top only of the chute and a ladder;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section of the upper end of the chute;

Fig. 5 is a section through a windowsill and a detail of the chute as applied thereto without a ladder;

, Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of a form of conveyor rope and loops; I

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the structure of Figure 5 omitting the building structure; n Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation of the delivery end of the chute showing the handles attached thereto;

Fig. 9'is an end elevation of the structure of Figure 8; and

.Fig. 10 is a side elevation diagrammatic in character illustrating the method of use of the device to aid escape from a vessel at sea.

The illustration of Figures 1 to 3 inclusive shows the device used in conjunction with a ladder. As shown the upper end of the ladder I'll has secured thereto a frame H having cross members l2 and I3 to define a rectangular opening in which the ring I4 which forms a rigid mouth for the chute [5 seats. As shown in Figure 4, the ring [4 is provided with an annular flange [6 to which the chute, I5 is riveted.

The frame which is secured to the ladder also has hook portions l1 engageable over a sill I8 of the building and spacing lugs l9 to prevent the bearing of the chute against the building itself.

The chute I5 is made of material appropriate .to the use intended. If for use in connection with burning buildings, then the chute should be formed of non-inflammable material as woven asbestos. If the chute is to be used where it may be immersed in water, as at sea, it is preferably formed of waterproof material as rubber. A useful form of the invention is an asbestos exterior and rubber interior. I As clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 9, the chute is of such a length that the lower end may approach the horizontal when in use, and to enable firemen, or others, to hold the chute in this position there are shown rigid bands 20 provided with handles 2| sufficient to accommodate enough men at each side (from one to four), to hold the device while a person or persons are sliding down its interior. The interior diameter of the chute is sufiicient for ready passage of a person of any size.

Because the chute terminates as shown, the velocity of a person sliding through the same will be checked as he approaches the delivery end.

In its use as illustrated in Figure 5 without a ladder, the frame comprises horizontal members 22, 23 and cross members I2, [3. The members 22, .23 are shown as terminating in hooks 24, 25 and supplementary members 26 underlie the members 22, 23, and are provided with downwardly projecting portions 21 spaced from the hook portions 24 a distance equal to the width of any usual windowsill. From the members 21 to the members 26 are shown braces 28 whereby the frame and the Weight of the chute may be safely carried upon the sill of the building.

Inthe form of use of the invention of Figure 9 a device similar to Figures, 5 and 6 is shown hooked over the rail of a vessel 29 and the delivery end of the chute is carried by a lifeboat 30.

For convenience the boat is shown as formed with uprights 3| to which the delivery end of the chute may be secured as by the handles 2| in any suitable Way. It is well known that one of the great hazards of escape from a vessel by its own lifeboats is in the swamping of the boats during launching, it being the usual practice for those who are to go in the boat to enter it before it is lowered from the davit. In the use of the present invention for this purpose the boat may be lowered with only a couple of men in it, de-

sirably carrying the delivery end of the chute, and when afloat the lowering tackle may be cast ofi, leaving the boat moored to the vessel by the chute only, Women and children may be fed into the chute, desirably feet first, and the men in the life-boat can receive them as delivered with great expedition and a minimum of hazard.

Under such conditions of escape, the vessel is normally used as a shield from the seas and the boats mooring to the vessel by the chute will be down-wind from the vessel and therefore the drift of the boat will keep the chute sufficiently taut for its use. Should this strain upon the chute be insufiicient, one man in the boat may ply the cars sufliciently to provide the necessary strain.

In the position of use shown in Figure 9 the stern of the lifeboat is toward the vessel, which position it may be desired to reverse.

Should one person seeking to escape by means of the device of the invention become stalled in the chute, so as to clog the passage of subsequent entries, a very serious condition would result.

To ensure that this does not happen by providing a positive feed of persons through the chute if used in a position not sufiiciently near the vertical to ensure prompt passage by gravity alone. there is shown an endless flexible member 32 as a rope or flat, woven strip, having loop carrying members 33 attached thereto at intervals.

The loops may desirably be provided in the form of a usual cattle-tie comprising a snap hook 34 at the free end of each member 33 engageable with a ring 35 near the end of the member to form the loop. When not in use the snap hooks may each be in engagement with a ring 38 on the member 33 to prevent interference with bodies sliding in the chute.

Depending on the service required the chute may be made of any of the following materials:

Asbestos Duck flameproofed Tarpaulin flameproofed Drill flameproofed Canvas flameproofed Rubberized asbestos Rubberized. duck flameproofed Rubberized tarpaulin flameproofed Rubberized canvas flameproofed Rubberized drill flameproofed Asbestos lined duck Asbestos lined tarpaulin Asbestos lined canvas Asbestos lined drill Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiment of the invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A life saving device comprising, in combination: a tubular chute; a rim secured in an upper end of the chute to hold the same open, comprising vertical and horizontal rigid members; a frame formed with vertical and horizontal members defining an opening receiving said rim, said frame also comprising a rigid member in spaced relation to said vertical members to span the upper edge of a structure to which the device is to be attached; substantially semicircular rigid members secured to the uper portion of the lower end of the chute provided with means to be grasped to support the lower end of the chute in a position approaching the horizontal whereby to preserve flexibility of the lower portion of said lower open end for discharge of bodies sliding through the chute, without injury.

2. The combination of claim 1 with means to support said semi-circular rigid members upon a life-boat.

3. A life saving device comprising, in combi nation: a tubular chute; a rigid rim secured in an upper end of the chute to hold the same open; a rigid frame formed with vertical and horizontal members defining an opening receiving and supporting said rim; said frame also comprising a rigid member in spaced relation and rigid with said vertical members to span the upper edge of a structure to which the device is to be attached; a substantially semi-circular rigid member secured to the upper portion of the lower end of the chute provided with means to be engaged to support the lower end of the chute in a position approaching the horizontal whereby to preserve flexibility of the lower portion of said lower open end for discharge of bodies sliding through the chute, without injury.

4. A life saving device for marine use comprising, in combination: a flexible chute attached at one end to the rail of a vessel; a life boat attached to the remaining end of the chute; said chute forming essentially the sole connection between the vessel and the boat during use of the chute, whereby drift of the boat with propulsion thereof when needed may hold the chute extended away from the vessel side; and means whereby the chute-boat attaching means holds the discharge end of the chute open and over the interior of the boat.

5. A life saving device comprising, in combination: a tubular chute; means to attach an entrance end of the chute to a structure to be escaped from; a substantially semi-circular rigid member secured to the upper portion of the exit end of the chute; means carried by said rigid member to be engaged to support the lower end of the chute in a position approaching the horizontal whereby to preserve flexibility of the lower portion of said exit end and to hold the same open for discharge of bodies passing through the chute, without injury.

CHARLES HERENDEEN. 

